D’Alberto turns factory driver for the day

D’Alberto has stepped into Dumbrell’s role as ride day driver in the #55 The Bottle-O Racing Falcon FG at Queensland Raceway, treating guests of the team to hot laps around the 3.1km Ipswich circuit.

D’Alberto said he was grateful for the chance to return to Bottle-O colours for the day.

“It was nice of them to ask me to help out and I was more than happy to help out,” D’Alberto told Speedcafe.com.

“PD has some business commitments today, so it made sense for me to drive his car. We have a very similar driving position.

“It’s just another way of building on the relationship our team has with Ford Performance Racing. We didn’t have a great run at Queensland Raceway, but I know everyone is working hard to fix that for the endurance races.”

This is not the first time that D’Alberto has had a presence with Bottle-O Racing. In 2008 and 2009, Tony D’Alberto Racing prepared the Rod Nash Racing V8 entry, with major backing from The Bottle-O.

D’Alberto’s team now has its own V8 entry, competing in a Ford Performance Racing-built Falcon, the same team that runs The Bottle-O Racing Falcon.

Dumbrell’s endurance driver Dean Canto is also at the ride day, getting his final laps in the Falcon before the L&H 500 Phillip Island in three weeks time.